1 00:00:13,600 --> 00:00:18,800 Speaker 1: Veggie chips, veggie sticks, snap, peace snacks, all this stuff. 2 00:00:19,000 --> 00:00:21,720 Speaker 1: It's all bullshit. I love it, I eat it. It's 3 00:00:21,760 --> 00:00:25,440 Speaker 1: not vegetables. A Holy bagel is not like a multi grain, 4 00:00:25,640 --> 00:00:28,440 Speaker 1: healthy for you bagel. It's mostly white flower that they 5 00:00:28,480 --> 00:00:31,920 Speaker 1: sprinkle in some white flower, unless it's like some sprouted grain. 6 00:00:32,360 --> 00:00:35,080 Speaker 1: You know it's fucking healthy bagel. It's not that healthy. 7 00:00:35,120 --> 00:00:37,000 Speaker 1: It's fine. I eat bagels all the time. I love them, 8 00:00:37,000 --> 00:00:38,880 Speaker 1: but it's just like sort of a joke to tell yourself. 9 00:00:39,080 --> 00:00:41,320 Speaker 1: Like a low fat muffin, it's Starbucks. You know, it's 10 00:00:41,320 --> 00:00:43,720 Speaker 1: still has four inter calories. You know, it still feels oily. 11 00:00:43,960 --> 00:00:46,160 Speaker 1: You know it's got sugar in it. It's low fat 12 00:00:46,200 --> 00:00:50,159 Speaker 1: compared to fucking what fat fat, fat or fat. So 13 00:00:50,760 --> 00:00:53,440 Speaker 1: know that Holy bagels are still a scam. Know that 14 00:00:53,640 --> 00:00:58,080 Speaker 1: veggie chips, snap, peach chips, anything. Guess what a potato 15 00:00:59,120 --> 00:01:02,280 Speaker 1: it's like a roof vegeta. Well that's a chip, so 16 00:01:02,520 --> 00:01:05,480 Speaker 1: it's still a potato chip. And all these things that 17 00:01:05,520 --> 00:01:10,000 Speaker 1: have like point oh one, you know, the smidgen of 18 00:01:10,080 --> 00:01:12,400 Speaker 1: vegetables just you can eat them because they're good. But 19 00:01:12,480 --> 00:01:14,640 Speaker 1: let's not buy into your own bullshit and think that 20 00:01:14,680 --> 00:01:18,319 Speaker 1: it's real a chip that's like actually kale and tastes 21 00:01:18,360 --> 00:01:21,680 Speaker 1: like doing community service. That's a real kale chip. And 22 00:01:21,720 --> 00:01:24,319 Speaker 1: you know it because you taste it and you're eating 23 00:01:24,680 --> 00:01:33,119 Speaker 1: the earth. So that's the difference. Today's International Women's Day 24 00:01:33,160 --> 00:01:37,160 Speaker 1: a global celebration of the social, economic, cultural, and political 25 00:01:37,200 --> 00:01:40,120 Speaker 1: achievements of women. And there is no better person to 26 00:01:40,160 --> 00:01:44,959 Speaker 1: celebrate this holiday with than my guest today, Senator Tammy Duckworth. 27 00:01:45,200 --> 00:01:49,280 Speaker 1: She is a politician, an advocate for veteran rights, a survivor, 28 00:01:49,720 --> 00:01:52,040 Speaker 1: and a mother. She's a woman who does it all. 29 00:01:52,240 --> 00:01:55,520 Speaker 1: She is a warrior. From the beginning, Tammy has been 30 00:01:55,520 --> 00:01:58,360 Speaker 1: a fighter. She took on financial responsibility for her family 31 00:01:58,400 --> 00:02:01,200 Speaker 1: at a young age, put herself through college, working many 32 00:02:01,280 --> 00:02:04,800 Speaker 1: minimum wage jobs, and went on to pursue her PhD 33 00:02:04,880 --> 00:02:07,560 Speaker 1: until halting her studies to fight for her country in 34 00:02:07,600 --> 00:02:11,160 Speaker 1: the Iraq War. Tammy was a helicopter pilot and in 35 00:02:11,240 --> 00:02:13,320 Speaker 1: November of two thousand and four, she was involved in 36 00:02:13,320 --> 00:02:15,560 Speaker 1: an accident that resulted in the loss of both of 37 00:02:15,560 --> 00:02:18,120 Speaker 1: her legs and partial use of her right arm. Through 38 00:02:18,200 --> 00:02:20,760 Speaker 1: this difficult situation, she has not been defeated and she 39 00:02:20,800 --> 00:02:24,480 Speaker 1: considers herself lucky since the accident and becoming the first 40 00:02:24,680 --> 00:02:27,600 Speaker 1: thie American woman elected to Congress. She's been a strong 41 00:02:27,680 --> 00:02:31,720 Speaker 1: advocate for working class families, mothers, veterans, and many other 42 00:02:31,760 --> 00:02:34,520 Speaker 1: groups in need of assistance. She has introduced bills that 43 00:02:34,560 --> 00:02:38,120 Speaker 1: have changed the country for the better. She holds Obama's 44 00:02:38,320 --> 00:02:42,880 Speaker 1: former seats in Congress. Senator Tammy Duckworth has been faced 45 00:02:42,880 --> 00:02:45,519 Speaker 1: with many challenges, yet response to them with a determination 46 00:02:45,560 --> 00:02:48,000 Speaker 1: to better the world around her. I'm inspired by her 47 00:02:48,000 --> 00:02:57,720 Speaker 1: bravery and resilience. I cannot wait to discuss her journey enjoy. 48 00:02:59,360 --> 00:03:03,359 Speaker 1: You are apt totally my most fascinating guests today, and 49 00:03:03,400 --> 00:03:06,000 Speaker 1: I've had some pretty fascinating people on I just was 50 00:03:06,080 --> 00:03:11,760 Speaker 1: reading about you, um, and I'm just incredibly moved by 51 00:03:11,880 --> 00:03:16,040 Speaker 1: all that you've done. It's impossible to even rattle off 52 00:03:16,040 --> 00:03:20,880 Speaker 1: the many titles you've had, the things you've accomplished. So 53 00:03:21,080 --> 00:03:23,000 Speaker 1: if I were to just meet you on an airplane 54 00:03:23,040 --> 00:03:25,640 Speaker 1: now and say what do you do for a living, 55 00:03:25,720 --> 00:03:29,680 Speaker 1: what would you say? Public servant and mom? Public servant 56 00:03:29,720 --> 00:03:33,160 Speaker 1: and mom? Interesting? Um, Well, so where where do you 57 00:03:33,200 --> 00:03:36,520 Speaker 1: live now? So I spent my time between Washington, d C. 58 00:03:36,640 --> 00:03:38,440 Speaker 1: Which is where I am now because we're in session. 59 00:03:38,760 --> 00:03:41,160 Speaker 1: You may actually hear their longest going off because I'm 60 00:03:41,200 --> 00:03:44,040 Speaker 1: in the capital. Actually. Uh. In fact, I'm right next 61 00:03:44,080 --> 00:03:46,320 Speaker 1: to a window that the rioters broke trying to get 62 00:03:46,560 --> 00:03:50,280 Speaker 1: break into the capital. Um. Yeah, so when when the 63 00:03:50,360 --> 00:03:53,400 Speaker 1: votes get caught, you'll see you hear the buzz in 64 00:03:53,400 --> 00:03:55,640 Speaker 1: the background. So I apologize for that. I can't control it. 65 00:03:55,880 --> 00:03:58,160 Speaker 1: But I also spend time in the suburbs of Chicago, 66 00:03:58,200 --> 00:04:00,640 Speaker 1: where my home ISS. So I split my time. UM, 67 00:04:00,720 --> 00:04:04,080 Speaker 1: usually here during the week home on the weekends. Okay, 68 00:04:04,480 --> 00:04:07,680 Speaker 1: are you a workaholic? Um? I work a lot, not 69 00:04:07,760 --> 00:04:10,000 Speaker 1: because I want to, but because I need to. Um, 70 00:04:10,640 --> 00:04:13,200 Speaker 1: it's you know, it's just it's a very strange schedule 71 00:04:13,280 --> 00:04:16,880 Speaker 1: that I'm on. It's um, you know, tonight we may 72 00:04:16,920 --> 00:04:19,640 Speaker 1: have votes until nine o'clock, ten eleven, twelve, or even 73 00:04:19,640 --> 00:04:22,240 Speaker 1: two am, but then I have all day Friday off, 74 00:04:22,480 --> 00:04:27,080 Speaker 1: so because we'll be done with the fingers crossed. I 75 00:04:27,160 --> 00:04:29,720 Speaker 1: call it a stack or a stack or like fewer 76 00:04:29,760 --> 00:04:33,040 Speaker 1: buckets full. I say, I'd rather have three buckets full 77 00:04:33,120 --> 00:04:35,359 Speaker 1: than six half fuld. So you see it seems like 78 00:04:35,360 --> 00:04:39,400 Speaker 1: you stack what you're doing. Yeah, yeah, exactly. Um, okay, 79 00:04:39,640 --> 00:04:43,680 Speaker 1: so you are I've done so much work and almost 80 00:04:43,680 --> 00:04:48,960 Speaker 1: dedicated most of its, most of your career supporting veterans. 81 00:04:49,720 --> 00:04:54,719 Speaker 1: And how can you explain that to the listeners? And 82 00:04:54,760 --> 00:04:57,400 Speaker 1: it's such an important thing, and so many of us 83 00:04:57,440 --> 00:05:00,200 Speaker 1: think about it, and then it's sort of dissolve is 84 00:05:00,200 --> 00:05:03,320 Speaker 1: in our minds and we realized how important it is 85 00:05:03,360 --> 00:05:06,960 Speaker 1: to support veterans. But you have made a life mission 86 00:05:07,520 --> 00:05:10,080 Speaker 1: of this issue. Yeah, I'm just I'm trying to repay 87 00:05:10,080 --> 00:05:11,680 Speaker 1: a debt that I can never pay. I was a 88 00:05:11,680 --> 00:05:14,719 Speaker 1: soldier for twenty three years, and halfway through that tenure, 89 00:05:14,720 --> 00:05:17,720 Speaker 1: I was wounded in Iraq Um and I'm alive today 90 00:05:17,760 --> 00:05:21,440 Speaker 1: because my buddies carried me out of a dusty field 91 00:05:21,480 --> 00:05:23,840 Speaker 1: in Iraq and got me to help. And every day 92 00:05:23,839 --> 00:05:26,440 Speaker 1: that I've opened up since that day, I swore that 93 00:05:26,800 --> 00:05:30,320 Speaker 1: I'm gonna live up to their sacrifice. And I fell 94 00:05:30,360 --> 00:05:32,760 Speaker 1: into a circumstance where I happened to be a patient 95 00:05:32,760 --> 00:05:37,159 Speaker 1: at WLL to Read when Barack Obama became a senator, 96 00:05:37,400 --> 00:05:41,040 Speaker 1: brand new senator from Illinois, and I started bothering him 97 00:05:41,040 --> 00:05:43,400 Speaker 1: and Senator durban on veteran's issues because I happened to 98 00:05:43,400 --> 00:05:46,240 Speaker 1: be the highest ranking amputee at well to read for 99 00:05:46,279 --> 00:05:48,560 Speaker 1: a while, and so we were having issues with how 100 00:05:48,680 --> 00:05:50,560 Speaker 1: we were being treated, and I just started calling my 101 00:05:50,600 --> 00:05:53,960 Speaker 1: senators and complaining. And that that's how I became a 102 00:05:54,080 --> 00:05:57,120 Speaker 1: veteran's advocate. Was I was just looking out for fellow 103 00:05:57,160 --> 00:05:59,880 Speaker 1: soldiers the way other soldiers looked out for me when 104 00:05:59,880 --> 00:06:02,520 Speaker 1: I can take care of myself. Um, And every day 105 00:06:02,680 --> 00:06:04,800 Speaker 1: since that day in that field in Iraq, I've been 106 00:06:04,839 --> 00:06:07,360 Speaker 1: trying to pay back this debt. And so every day 107 00:06:07,360 --> 00:06:09,560 Speaker 1: I tried to do something. And we can all do something. 108 00:06:09,880 --> 00:06:11,640 Speaker 1: You don't have to go out there and build a 109 00:06:11,640 --> 00:06:14,600 Speaker 1: homeless shelter or hire a hundred veterans, but we can 110 00:06:14,640 --> 00:06:17,320 Speaker 1: all do something to help out. That's annal military families 111 00:06:17,520 --> 00:06:20,640 Speaker 1: because they served to You were just making phone calls. 112 00:06:20,680 --> 00:06:22,640 Speaker 1: And it's funny because when I got into relief work, 113 00:06:22,960 --> 00:06:24,880 Speaker 1: it was just I was a nobody and just making 114 00:06:24,880 --> 00:06:26,960 Speaker 1: phone calls. People often want to know how to help, 115 00:06:27,040 --> 00:06:30,240 Speaker 1: and they don't realize that the people are fairly accessible. 116 00:06:30,320 --> 00:06:33,200 Speaker 1: You can get somebody in the lower ranks on the 117 00:06:33,240 --> 00:06:36,279 Speaker 1: phone and work your way up if you are organized 118 00:06:36,320 --> 00:06:39,799 Speaker 1: and have a clear, compelling message and you know something 119 00:06:39,839 --> 00:06:43,239 Speaker 1: to really say. Yeah, exactly, I just started calling Dick Durban. 120 00:06:43,320 --> 00:06:46,160 Speaker 1: Dick Durbin, who was the senior senator from Illinois and 121 00:06:46,200 --> 00:06:48,640 Speaker 1: stu Is happened to come through all Tarid to visit 122 00:06:48,640 --> 00:06:50,680 Speaker 1: the troops and I cornered him and I said, I 123 00:06:50,720 --> 00:06:52,600 Speaker 1: got a guy who hasn't been paid in six months. 124 00:06:52,600 --> 00:06:54,880 Speaker 1: He's unconscious in his wife's got a six month old 125 00:06:54,880 --> 00:06:58,920 Speaker 1: baby and she can't buy diapers. We need help, um. 126 00:06:58,960 --> 00:07:00,480 Speaker 1: And so he made the mistake of writing a phone 127 00:07:00,560 --> 00:07:02,200 Speaker 1: number down on the back of a business card that 128 00:07:02,279 --> 00:07:05,120 Speaker 1: I instantly abused that backed out of that business that 129 00:07:05,320 --> 00:07:10,720 Speaker 1: phone number, yeah, And he said, you are a squeaky wheel. Yeah. 130 00:07:10,760 --> 00:07:13,520 Speaker 1: And then that's how I became an advocate um and 131 00:07:13,640 --> 00:07:17,760 Speaker 1: which then after about ten months of this, uh, the 132 00:07:17,760 --> 00:07:20,400 Speaker 1: two Senators Derban and Obama called me and said, you 133 00:07:20,400 --> 00:07:22,040 Speaker 1: need to run for Congress if you think we're not 134 00:07:22,080 --> 00:07:25,840 Speaker 1: doing right by our veterans and only cow. That's how 135 00:07:25,880 --> 00:07:28,720 Speaker 1: I got into politics. I was just a soldier who 136 00:07:28,760 --> 00:07:31,040 Speaker 1: was trying to watch out for those who were lower 137 00:07:31,120 --> 00:07:34,320 Speaker 1: ranking than myself. Um. The way, when I couldn't take 138 00:07:34,320 --> 00:07:36,840 Speaker 1: care of myself, my buddies took care of me. I mean, 139 00:07:36,880 --> 00:07:39,480 Speaker 1: what you've been through is extraordinary, and I want to 140 00:07:39,480 --> 00:07:41,240 Speaker 1: get into it. But you were saying I was just 141 00:07:41,440 --> 00:07:43,560 Speaker 1: a soldier, So in your mind, you were just a soldier. 142 00:07:43,840 --> 00:07:46,720 Speaker 1: And the word Congress probably sounds like some big, bad word, 143 00:07:47,200 --> 00:07:49,880 Speaker 1: and they made it seem more accessible to you, and 144 00:07:49,920 --> 00:07:52,160 Speaker 1: that you're sort of saying that that these types of 145 00:07:52,200 --> 00:07:54,480 Speaker 1: things where you can make a difference are more accessible 146 00:07:54,480 --> 00:07:57,280 Speaker 1: than most people. I think, like the words senate, the 147 00:07:57,320 --> 00:08:00,000 Speaker 1: word congress, it all sounds like a very big, intimidating, 148 00:08:00,000 --> 00:08:03,680 Speaker 1: eating word. So what was that bridge? Like? How did 149 00:08:03,720 --> 00:08:06,880 Speaker 1: you approach that and feel like you could do it well? 150 00:08:06,920 --> 00:08:09,040 Speaker 1: I mean, I have imposter syndrome every day. I have 151 00:08:09,120 --> 00:08:10,880 Speaker 1: a postor syndrome. Now I gotta served next to a 152 00:08:10,920 --> 00:08:13,360 Speaker 1: Corey Booker, you know, and and and Commal, and IM 153 00:08:13,360 --> 00:08:15,400 Speaker 1: a freshman Comala here is and I'm a freshman into 154 00:08:15,400 --> 00:08:17,720 Speaker 1: the Senate together. So I have impostor syndrome every day. 155 00:08:17,920 --> 00:08:20,000 Speaker 1: But I gotta tell you what I do. But I 156 00:08:20,080 --> 00:08:24,160 Speaker 1: gotta tell you that the women in this house and 157 00:08:24,200 --> 00:08:27,160 Speaker 1: in the Senate generally got here on a different path 158 00:08:27,400 --> 00:08:30,280 Speaker 1: than the men did. And most of us were something 159 00:08:30,320 --> 00:08:33,800 Speaker 1: else and got mad about something and started advocating for that, 160 00:08:33,920 --> 00:08:40,040 Speaker 1: and we became we became congressman or senators because of it. 161 00:08:40,240 --> 00:08:41,800 Speaker 1: I think kind of the same with you, right you 162 00:08:41,800 --> 00:08:44,720 Speaker 1: you were on this one path, which was show business, 163 00:08:44,840 --> 00:08:48,480 Speaker 1: but you found something that you could leverage, you know, 164 00:08:49,080 --> 00:08:53,160 Speaker 1: your your position to help people got mad. You got 165 00:08:53,200 --> 00:08:55,200 Speaker 1: mad or annoyed that there was this need that wasn't 166 00:08:55,200 --> 00:08:57,040 Speaker 1: being met, and you chose to do something about it. 167 00:08:57,240 --> 00:08:58,960 Speaker 1: And I think that's where a lot of the women 168 00:08:58,960 --> 00:09:00,880 Speaker 1: in the House and in the Senate are. I was 169 00:09:00,920 --> 00:09:04,359 Speaker 1: a soldier trying to help other soldiers. Uh Jan Chikowski 170 00:09:04,400 --> 00:09:07,280 Speaker 1: from Illinois was a mom who was piste off that 171 00:09:07,440 --> 00:09:10,160 Speaker 1: she couldn't tell when the food in the seventies, she 172 00:09:10,200 --> 00:09:11,880 Speaker 1: couldn't tell when the food, when the food she was 173 00:09:11,920 --> 00:09:14,360 Speaker 1: giving her kids was going to expire. So she started 174 00:09:14,960 --> 00:09:19,280 Speaker 1: campaigning for sell by date on food. That's interesting, that's interesting. 175 00:09:19,320 --> 00:09:21,800 Speaker 1: And then that's how she became a politician. You know. 176 00:09:21,880 --> 00:09:24,680 Speaker 1: And a lot of teachers, a lot of former teachers 177 00:09:24,720 --> 00:09:28,000 Speaker 1: are members of Congress now. So it's usually the women 178 00:09:28,040 --> 00:09:30,120 Speaker 1: in particular. You know, the men tend to have been 179 00:09:30,160 --> 00:09:32,840 Speaker 1: like they were an intern for a congressman or their 180 00:09:32,920 --> 00:09:35,880 Speaker 1: uncle was a senator and they get here that um. 181 00:09:35,880 --> 00:09:37,679 Speaker 1: But most of the women, if you talk to them, 182 00:09:37,679 --> 00:09:39,959 Speaker 1: and you research us, you'll find that we were something 183 00:09:39,960 --> 00:09:41,960 Speaker 1: else and we got mad about a particular issue in 184 00:09:41,960 --> 00:09:44,760 Speaker 1: turn of evocating. And then I think that's a good book. 185 00:09:44,920 --> 00:09:46,920 Speaker 1: I think it's a good book. I'm mad. I'm mad 186 00:09:46,960 --> 00:09:48,520 Speaker 1: as hell, and I'm not going to take it any more. 187 00:09:48,520 --> 00:09:52,240 Speaker 1: Stories of women who turned, you know, a gripe into 188 00:09:52,280 --> 00:09:54,520 Speaker 1: a political career. I think it's a good book. Yeah, 189 00:09:54,520 --> 00:09:56,679 Speaker 1: I think they you know, the political career was kind 190 00:09:56,720 --> 00:09:59,599 Speaker 1: of an accidental thing that happened along the way of 191 00:09:59,600 --> 00:10:02,400 Speaker 1: trying to solve the problem. That's amazing. I love that. Yeah, 192 00:10:02,400 --> 00:10:04,400 Speaker 1: because people keep telling me to get into politics because 193 00:10:04,400 --> 00:10:05,920 Speaker 1: they're doing relief work, and I'm like, that has nothing 194 00:10:05,960 --> 00:10:08,240 Speaker 1: to do with me politics, you know. But that's a 195 00:10:08,240 --> 00:10:12,319 Speaker 1: good question because for me, Um, I feel like getting 196 00:10:12,320 --> 00:10:16,360 Speaker 1: into politics would slow me down because I go really rogue, 197 00:10:16,760 --> 00:10:19,560 Speaker 1: I have the party and ask for forgiveness later, and 198 00:10:19,600 --> 00:10:21,760 Speaker 1: I don't want to have to ask for permission. So 199 00:10:21,800 --> 00:10:24,120 Speaker 1: that's the thing I find to be bogged down about politics. 200 00:10:24,280 --> 00:10:26,400 Speaker 1: Tell me what you think about that. Well, I think 201 00:10:26,400 --> 00:10:29,560 Speaker 1: there has me a coalition of different people with different abilities, um, 202 00:10:29,679 --> 00:10:32,400 Speaker 1: And and you know, I worked with folks who are 203 00:10:32,440 --> 00:10:35,080 Speaker 1: both outside government and those are in government. Right. I 204 00:10:35,160 --> 00:10:38,199 Speaker 1: chose to write because I've realized that I could not 205 00:10:38,240 --> 00:10:41,440 Speaker 1: fix the v A the way I wanted to fix it, um, 206 00:10:41,520 --> 00:10:44,880 Speaker 1: and I had to change yeah. Right, So it was 207 00:10:45,000 --> 00:10:47,360 Speaker 1: going ques make a difference when I showed up at 208 00:10:47,400 --> 00:10:50,560 Speaker 1: v A as as as a patient right where, you know, 209 00:10:50,720 --> 00:10:52,520 Speaker 1: the army had put me on his former on the 210 00:10:52,520 --> 00:10:55,640 Speaker 1: patchword of control because it was convenient for the army 211 00:10:55,679 --> 00:10:56,960 Speaker 1: to have me on the patch when I was serving 212 00:10:56,960 --> 00:10:59,440 Speaker 1: in Iran, and if I had an upcoming mission, I could, 213 00:10:59,480 --> 00:11:02,320 Speaker 1: you know, put our patch after patching and skip my 214 00:11:02,400 --> 00:11:06,199 Speaker 1: period so I could fly my missions as an helicopter pilot. Um. 215 00:11:06,280 --> 00:11:07,640 Speaker 1: But then when I went to the v A and 216 00:11:07,679 --> 00:11:11,480 Speaker 1: I tried to get my breath prescription prescription, They're like, oh, sorry, 217 00:11:11,520 --> 00:11:15,200 Speaker 1: we don't have to patch. I said, the government put 218 00:11:15,200 --> 00:11:16,640 Speaker 1: me on this form of birth control and now you're 219 00:11:16,640 --> 00:11:18,000 Speaker 1: not providing it to me. And by the way, they 220 00:11:18,000 --> 00:11:22,720 Speaker 1: had biangra, you know, and so I tried. Yeah. So 221 00:11:22,760 --> 00:11:26,320 Speaker 1: I realized that to change the v AS formulary and 222 00:11:26,360 --> 00:11:28,600 Speaker 1: prescriptions and with pretoricable, I had to do from within. 223 00:11:28,800 --> 00:11:30,760 Speaker 1: So that's when I went to serve within the b 224 00:11:30,920 --> 00:11:34,679 Speaker 1: A before I actually ran for office and and so. 225 00:11:35,320 --> 00:11:37,320 Speaker 1: But there are folks who are who are changing things. 226 00:11:37,320 --> 00:11:39,920 Speaker 1: And I think it's that partnership between those who are 227 00:11:40,440 --> 00:11:42,520 Speaker 1: on the inside of the organizations, those are in the 228 00:11:42,600 --> 00:11:45,440 Speaker 1: legislative branch like me to change the laws, and then 229 00:11:45,480 --> 00:11:48,520 Speaker 1: those like you who leverage. You know, we all bring 230 00:11:48,559 --> 00:11:50,640 Speaker 1: different things at the table and we need to leverage 231 00:11:50,679 --> 00:11:54,400 Speaker 1: our strengths to make the change. That totally happened. Totally, 232 00:11:54,679 --> 00:11:57,960 Speaker 1: It's totally true because we have to deal with politicians. 233 00:11:58,040 --> 00:12:01,880 Speaker 1: Like when we were dealing with the Bahamas horrible hurricane. 234 00:12:02,480 --> 00:12:05,360 Speaker 1: We couldn't just fly planes into the Bahamas and start helping. 235 00:12:05,400 --> 00:12:07,600 Speaker 1: We had to play the game and deal with the 236 00:12:07,640 --> 00:12:11,480 Speaker 1: company that was dealt as like a sort of crisis manager. 237 00:12:11,520 --> 00:12:13,719 Speaker 1: We had to play the game with them, and they 238 00:12:13,720 --> 00:12:16,320 Speaker 1: didn't want us to fly planes in right away, and 239 00:12:16,400 --> 00:12:19,000 Speaker 1: because they thought that we'd be posting and promoting what 240 00:12:19,120 --> 00:12:21,080 Speaker 1: was going on there, and they have a big tourism business, 241 00:12:21,080 --> 00:12:23,199 Speaker 1: and we were like, tough ship, We're going in one 242 00:12:23,200 --> 00:12:24,640 Speaker 1: way or the other, so you're gonna have to play 243 00:12:24,679 --> 00:12:27,720 Speaker 1: with us, you know that kind of stuff. It's interesting. So, 244 00:12:27,720 --> 00:12:31,640 Speaker 1: so what made you get into the military to begin with? 245 00:12:31,960 --> 00:12:34,360 Speaker 1: So you're a woman, and where are you living. Um, 246 00:12:34,400 --> 00:12:37,040 Speaker 1: I was living in Illinois. Well, I'm actually in DC. 247 00:12:37,320 --> 00:12:41,120 Speaker 1: I decided to join our OTC. Um. I'm knowing that 248 00:12:41,160 --> 00:12:45,400 Speaker 1: I needed to serve. My my family has been in 249 00:12:45,440 --> 00:12:47,800 Speaker 1: military service, going to before the revolution. So I'm a 250 00:12:47,880 --> 00:12:50,000 Speaker 1: daughter of American revolution. I don't look like it, but 251 00:12:50,080 --> 00:12:52,599 Speaker 1: I am. My mother is from Thailand. My mother is 252 00:12:52,600 --> 00:12:54,360 Speaker 1: an immigrant on my gay so I would go back 253 00:12:54,520 --> 00:12:58,360 Speaker 1: pre revolution. Um um. And I always knew I was 254 00:12:58,360 --> 00:13:00,400 Speaker 1: gonna serve, but I wanted to serve in the foreign service. 255 00:13:00,440 --> 00:13:03,280 Speaker 1: I wanted to be that visa officer stepping visas in 256 00:13:03,320 --> 00:13:08,320 Speaker 1: American embassies overseas. Um. And I I was getting my 257 00:13:08,440 --> 00:13:12,439 Speaker 1: master's degree in international affairs and got laid off from 258 00:13:12,440 --> 00:13:15,840 Speaker 1: my job. Um. I had the summer off, and the 259 00:13:15,960 --> 00:13:18,560 Speaker 1: guys in my class, who have all happened to be military, said, hey, 260 00:13:18,600 --> 00:13:20,240 Speaker 1: if you want to learn about international affairs and you 261 00:13:20,280 --> 00:13:23,760 Speaker 1: would want to become a diplomat an ambassador someday, you 262 00:13:23,800 --> 00:13:26,440 Speaker 1: should take some r OTC classes and just learn with 263 00:13:26,480 --> 00:13:29,320 Speaker 1: the military. Is because that oftentimes is the first space 264 00:13:29,400 --> 00:13:31,680 Speaker 1: of America that the world sees and and and that's 265 00:13:31,720 --> 00:13:35,520 Speaker 1: not necessarily you know, all of the power of this country. 266 00:13:35,559 --> 00:13:37,360 Speaker 1: We have many you know, I'll culture all these other 267 00:13:37,400 --> 00:13:39,480 Speaker 1: things that just as powerful as how many tanks and 268 00:13:39,520 --> 00:13:41,920 Speaker 1: guns and helicopters we have. So I went off to 269 00:13:42,000 --> 00:13:46,120 Speaker 1: our to uh basic training and fell in love with 270 00:13:46,160 --> 00:13:48,960 Speaker 1: the army, even as I locked myself in the latrine 271 00:13:49,000 --> 00:13:51,960 Speaker 1: and cried every other day while girls sergeants were yelling 272 00:13:52,000 --> 00:13:54,160 Speaker 1: at me. I fell in love with the meritocracy of 273 00:13:54,200 --> 00:13:56,640 Speaker 1: it um and decided that that's what I wanted to 274 00:13:56,679 --> 00:13:59,840 Speaker 1: do on the reserve side. So then I continue to study, 275 00:14:00,040 --> 00:14:02,080 Speaker 1: was working on a PhD, and I was a helicopter 276 00:14:02,160 --> 00:14:05,520 Speaker 1: pilot on the weekends and two weeks a year, and 277 00:14:05,520 --> 00:14:21,600 Speaker 1: and then Iraq happened, and then I was activated. Were 278 00:14:21,640 --> 00:14:25,720 Speaker 1: you scared before? I mean, were you scared in your career? 279 00:14:25,920 --> 00:14:29,200 Speaker 1: Were you scared while there? Or did you not even 280 00:14:29,240 --> 00:14:32,320 Speaker 1: know to be as scared as you should be based 281 00:14:32,320 --> 00:14:34,440 Speaker 1: on what happened to you? I meaning leading up to 282 00:14:34,480 --> 00:14:37,880 Speaker 1: the event and just in your everyday life. Were you scared? 283 00:14:38,360 --> 00:14:40,240 Speaker 1: I wasn't scared because I was won't trained. I had 284 00:14:40,240 --> 00:14:43,680 Speaker 1: been trained by the greatest military the world has ever known. 285 00:14:43,840 --> 00:14:45,880 Speaker 1: And I trusted my equipment, I trusted my training. I 286 00:14:45,880 --> 00:14:49,960 Speaker 1: trusted in my fellow soldiers. UM, I knew with the risk, 287 00:14:50,000 --> 00:14:52,800 Speaker 1: we're uh and and you mitigate the risk the best 288 00:14:52,800 --> 00:14:54,600 Speaker 1: that you can, and you go and you do your job. 289 00:14:54,840 --> 00:14:57,200 Speaker 1: There was no way that I was going to not go, 290 00:14:57,320 --> 00:14:59,400 Speaker 1: because even though I didn't support the war in Iraq, 291 00:14:59,640 --> 00:15:02,280 Speaker 1: I said, ordered our constitution and I believe that the 292 00:15:02,320 --> 00:15:06,880 Speaker 1: military must be subsident to the civilian And by that 293 00:15:07,000 --> 00:15:09,840 Speaker 1: I mean when the when when George Bush, who was 294 00:15:10,120 --> 00:15:12,280 Speaker 1: the person that America elected to be president, said We're 295 00:15:12,280 --> 00:15:14,240 Speaker 1: going to go to war in Iraq, and Congress voted 296 00:15:14,240 --> 00:15:16,600 Speaker 1: for the war in Iraq. As a soldier, because I 297 00:15:16,640 --> 00:15:19,680 Speaker 1: believed in the constitution, I was proud to go. I 298 00:15:19,520 --> 00:15:21,440 Speaker 1: was still proud of my service to this day, even 299 00:15:21,440 --> 00:15:23,520 Speaker 1: though I didn't agree with why we were there. So 300 00:15:23,680 --> 00:15:27,000 Speaker 1: I was I I had utter confidence in my training. 301 00:15:27,200 --> 00:15:29,240 Speaker 1: When at this point I was, you know, twelve years 302 00:15:29,360 --> 00:15:32,320 Speaker 1: after I've been serving for twelve years already, so I 303 00:15:32,400 --> 00:15:34,960 Speaker 1: was further along in my career. UM, I was never 304 00:15:35,080 --> 00:15:38,160 Speaker 1: scared serving in the military. I always knew that I 305 00:15:38,200 --> 00:15:40,720 Speaker 1: was well trained and well equipped to do the job. 306 00:15:41,200 --> 00:15:43,040 Speaker 1: And that's one of the things that military and steers 307 00:15:43,040 --> 00:15:45,120 Speaker 1: in you. And I think as a young woman, it 308 00:15:45,160 --> 00:15:48,080 Speaker 1: made me braver to try new things. You know, when 309 00:15:48,120 --> 00:15:50,360 Speaker 1: I was younger, I probably would not have tried things. 310 00:15:50,400 --> 00:15:52,240 Speaker 1: I would want to try to practice until I was 311 00:15:52,280 --> 00:15:54,640 Speaker 1: good at something, before I admitted that I could do something. 312 00:15:54,960 --> 00:15:57,840 Speaker 1: But in the military, you know, they they they teach 313 00:15:57,880 --> 00:16:01,000 Speaker 1: you to trust in yourself. And I think that confidence, 314 00:16:01,080 --> 00:16:03,840 Speaker 1: those leadership skills really helped me later on when I 315 00:16:03,920 --> 00:16:06,640 Speaker 1: decided to run for office, even though I wasn't sure, 316 00:16:06,840 --> 00:16:08,840 Speaker 1: even though I have a poster syndrome every day, I 317 00:16:08,880 --> 00:16:11,680 Speaker 1: also trust in my own ability to do the work. 318 00:16:11,960 --> 00:16:13,960 Speaker 1: And the Army taught me to do the work well. 319 00:16:14,000 --> 00:16:16,280 Speaker 1: And I always knew that if I the work, I 320 00:16:16,280 --> 00:16:18,560 Speaker 1: can bring something to the table. Even if i'm you know, 321 00:16:18,720 --> 00:16:21,640 Speaker 1: intimidated by the folks around me, I can control with 322 00:16:21,680 --> 00:16:23,760 Speaker 1: the work that I do and the prep that I do. 323 00:16:24,000 --> 00:16:26,680 Speaker 1: This is the craziest thing that I'll probably ever say 324 00:16:26,680 --> 00:16:29,440 Speaker 1: on this podcast, because I'm talking about Shaggy the musical 325 00:16:29,520 --> 00:16:32,720 Speaker 1: artists in the same sentence as you. But he was 326 00:16:32,760 --> 00:16:35,320 Speaker 1: in the military. He was a marine, and he said 327 00:16:35,360 --> 00:16:37,480 Speaker 1: he wasn't a good marine, and he didn't. It wasn't 328 00:16:37,520 --> 00:16:40,040 Speaker 1: for him, but it trained him for his musical career 329 00:16:40,360 --> 00:16:43,200 Speaker 1: to get up in the morning and to be meticulous 330 00:16:43,200 --> 00:16:44,760 Speaker 1: and to be organized and to do a gig in 331 00:16:44,760 --> 00:16:46,840 Speaker 1: the morning and at night. So it's interesting the different 332 00:16:46,880 --> 00:16:51,320 Speaker 1: paths that the military trains people for. And in yours case, 333 00:16:51,360 --> 00:16:54,520 Speaker 1: it's supporting veterans and a life of politics and in 334 00:16:54,600 --> 00:16:59,280 Speaker 1: his being a musician. Um, but I want to talk about, um, So, 335 00:16:59,360 --> 00:17:03,760 Speaker 1: the moments leading up to your accident, they were it 336 00:17:03,840 --> 00:17:08,520 Speaker 1: was not my shoot down. Down you shot right, you're 337 00:17:08,600 --> 00:17:12,440 Speaker 1: right when the bastards were aiming for me. Okay, So 338 00:17:12,960 --> 00:17:19,960 Speaker 1: leading up to your shoot down, Uh, did you realize 339 00:17:20,000 --> 00:17:23,160 Speaker 1: something bad was about to go down? Did you, like, 340 00:17:23,400 --> 00:17:26,359 Speaker 1: did your life flash before you? Did? You were? You 341 00:17:26,440 --> 00:17:29,480 Speaker 1: just do not remember anything? Like what was that? Like? 342 00:17:29,800 --> 00:17:33,760 Speaker 1: I remember a lot? Um. So this was during this 343 00:17:33,800 --> 00:17:36,680 Speaker 1: time he was the second battle for Fuluja, So it's 344 00:17:36,720 --> 00:17:40,800 Speaker 1: pretty hot anyway. And um it was the end of 345 00:17:40,840 --> 00:17:42,760 Speaker 1: the day. We had a great day. I mean, we've 346 00:17:42,760 --> 00:17:44,600 Speaker 1: done all sorts of great missions and then and we 347 00:17:44,640 --> 00:17:49,200 Speaker 1: were headed back to home face and UM I heard 348 00:17:49,280 --> 00:17:52,280 Speaker 1: top top tap on the fuselage of the aircraft right 349 00:17:52,280 --> 00:17:55,640 Speaker 1: outside my right door, which was small arms fire. UM 350 00:17:55,720 --> 00:17:58,200 Speaker 1: A K forty seven was hitting the side of my aircraft, 351 00:17:58,280 --> 00:18:01,400 Speaker 1: and I swore and said to the other pilot, I'm like, oh, 352 00:18:01,520 --> 00:18:06,280 Speaker 1: f we've been hit. Um. And I went immediately into 353 00:18:06,320 --> 00:18:09,520 Speaker 1: the mode of my training, which was hit the GPS 354 00:18:09,560 --> 00:18:11,960 Speaker 1: to store the location of the target, to report the 355 00:18:12,000 --> 00:18:14,800 Speaker 1: hire headquarters where we'd receive um, you know, when we've 356 00:18:14,800 --> 00:18:18,080 Speaker 1: been fired upon. And right then boom, the fireball happened 357 00:18:18,080 --> 00:18:21,840 Speaker 1: in my lap, which was the RPG exploding essentially beneath 358 00:18:22,200 --> 00:18:26,120 Speaker 1: right under the right underneath me, just between my legs. Um. 359 00:18:26,160 --> 00:18:29,480 Speaker 1: That vaporized my right leg. Um. It kicked my left 360 00:18:29,520 --> 00:18:32,359 Speaker 1: leg into the instrument panel of the of the helicopter, 361 00:18:32,680 --> 00:18:34,679 Speaker 1: which then shared off that leg. It blew off the 362 00:18:34,720 --> 00:18:38,679 Speaker 1: back of my right arm. But I don't remember that portion. 363 00:18:38,760 --> 00:18:40,840 Speaker 1: What I remember is trying to land the aircraft because 364 00:18:40,960 --> 00:18:43,800 Speaker 1: the aircraft got filled with dark smoke. We were flying 365 00:18:43,800 --> 00:18:46,880 Speaker 1: a hundred, which is that hundred fifty ten ft above 366 00:18:46,920 --> 00:18:49,320 Speaker 1: the trees, so I was about You know, one of 367 00:18:49,359 --> 00:18:51,000 Speaker 1: the things they taught you in flight school, you gotta 368 00:18:51,040 --> 00:18:54,439 Speaker 1: keep flying just because something bad happens and you're the pilot. 369 00:18:54,920 --> 00:18:57,119 Speaker 1: The passengers are not very happy when the pilot stopped 370 00:18:57,119 --> 00:18:58,760 Speaker 1: flying and you're not on the ground. So you gotta 371 00:18:58,840 --> 00:19:02,080 Speaker 1: new your job. But you were capable of still flying 372 00:19:02,119 --> 00:19:04,200 Speaker 1: a plant. You were capable of still flying a helicopter 373 00:19:04,359 --> 00:19:06,600 Speaker 1: while that had just happened to you. Well, I didn't 374 00:19:06,640 --> 00:19:08,320 Speaker 1: know that I didn't have any limbs left except for 375 00:19:08,359 --> 00:19:10,600 Speaker 1: my left arm. I didn't know that my limbs were severed. 376 00:19:10,600 --> 00:19:12,080 Speaker 1: I mean, how many times do you sit look down 377 00:19:12,119 --> 00:19:14,159 Speaker 1: to check to your feet are or there? You feel them? 378 00:19:14,200 --> 00:19:15,920 Speaker 1: And I could feel my feet. I was frustrated the 379 00:19:15,920 --> 00:19:18,959 Speaker 1: aircraft wasn't responding. The other pilot was doing the flying, 380 00:19:19,040 --> 00:19:21,280 Speaker 1: but I couldn't tell because we were filled with black smoke. 381 00:19:21,880 --> 00:19:23,960 Speaker 1: It took out all of our ambonic so we couldn't 382 00:19:24,000 --> 00:19:25,640 Speaker 1: talk to each other. I thought I was the only 383 00:19:25,720 --> 00:19:29,119 Speaker 1: one that was okay. So I was doing everything I 384 00:19:29,160 --> 00:19:32,439 Speaker 1: could to land the aircraft, passing in and out of consciousness. 385 00:19:32,480 --> 00:19:34,240 Speaker 1: And then when we finally got the bird on the ground, 386 00:19:34,280 --> 00:19:36,639 Speaker 1: when when Dan got the bird on the ground, I 387 00:19:36,800 --> 00:19:39,040 Speaker 1: noticed we hadn't done an emergency engine shutdown. I tried 388 00:19:39,080 --> 00:19:40,960 Speaker 1: to shut down the engine and that's when I passed out. 389 00:19:41,359 --> 00:19:44,040 Speaker 1: How long how long was that process from when you 390 00:19:44,280 --> 00:19:49,640 Speaker 1: were hit to landing the aircraft? Minutes minutes? Maybe five 391 00:19:49,720 --> 00:19:53,159 Speaker 1: minutes at most um, and then I don't remember anything 392 00:19:53,240 --> 00:19:55,400 Speaker 1: until I wake up at Walter read eleven days later. 393 00:19:55,800 --> 00:19:58,159 Speaker 1: I've now met lots of folks, and I write about this. Actually, 394 00:19:58,200 --> 00:20:00,560 Speaker 1: I wrote a book reacenting you mentioned book. I wrote 395 00:20:00,600 --> 00:20:02,400 Speaker 1: about this because I went back and talked to the people. 396 00:20:02,520 --> 00:20:07,520 Speaker 1: I actually woke up in the emergency room. They they 397 00:20:07,600 --> 00:20:09,440 Speaker 1: brought me in and I was up barking out orders 398 00:20:09,440 --> 00:20:11,280 Speaker 1: because I was also the highest ranking person on my 399 00:20:11,359 --> 00:20:14,320 Speaker 1: aircraft that day, checking up on the condition of my crew, 400 00:20:14,520 --> 00:20:16,480 Speaker 1: wanting to take up record to higher headquarters. And I 401 00:20:16,520 --> 00:20:19,159 Speaker 1: looked at me and like, you have no blood left 402 00:20:19,240 --> 00:20:20,879 Speaker 1: in your body, what are you doing talking? And they 403 00:20:21,240 --> 00:20:24,399 Speaker 1: essentially sedated my entire crew just to shut us up, 404 00:20:24,400 --> 00:20:27,119 Speaker 1: because we were all going, who's taking care of Serge 405 00:20:27,160 --> 00:20:28,760 Speaker 1: and so and so, who's cutting and care of Tammy? 406 00:20:28,800 --> 00:20:30,560 Speaker 1: And then all the doctors and nurse like you guys 407 00:20:30,640 --> 00:20:32,960 Speaker 1: were hand. We just had to shut you up and 408 00:20:33,000 --> 00:20:36,000 Speaker 1: sedate all of you. But I don't remember that hard. 409 00:20:36,119 --> 00:20:40,000 Speaker 1: Oh my god. So, so you wake up almost two 410 00:20:40,080 --> 00:20:44,840 Speaker 1: weeks later, and what does your life become? How are you? 411 00:20:45,560 --> 00:20:49,440 Speaker 1: Are you sad? Are you angry? Are you bitter? Are 412 00:20:49,560 --> 00:20:52,959 Speaker 1: you you know, confusing? You replaying things, wishing you did 413 00:20:53,040 --> 00:20:55,959 Speaker 1: things differently? Are you blaming anyone? And you're mad at 414 00:20:56,000 --> 00:20:58,760 Speaker 1: the war and George Bush, I mean, what's going on? 415 00:20:59,680 --> 00:21:02,000 Speaker 1: So before I woke up, there was a period about 416 00:21:02,040 --> 00:21:04,119 Speaker 1: thirty six hours when they were weaning me off of 417 00:21:04,280 --> 00:21:06,200 Speaker 1: the medication to try to wake me up because I 418 00:21:06,280 --> 00:21:08,879 Speaker 1: was in a medical coma UM and I was more 419 00:21:08,960 --> 00:21:12,840 Speaker 1: awake than the people around me realized. UM so UM. 420 00:21:13,119 --> 00:21:17,120 Speaker 1: So I could hear the doctors and nurses and um 421 00:21:17,760 --> 00:21:22,760 Speaker 1: the darktor nurses talked about a helicopter uh crash or 422 00:21:22,800 --> 00:21:26,159 Speaker 1: a helicopter accident um, And I remember the last thing 423 00:21:26,200 --> 00:21:28,560 Speaker 1: I remember was doing everything I could to land an aircraft. 424 00:21:28,600 --> 00:21:31,399 Speaker 1: And I remember that we landed the aircraft and people 425 00:21:31,440 --> 00:21:34,399 Speaker 1: were safe and I did my job. But what I 426 00:21:34,520 --> 00:21:37,399 Speaker 1: was hearing was it crashed. And I that was the 427 00:21:37,480 --> 00:21:40,160 Speaker 1: lowest that I ever was when I thought I deserved 428 00:21:40,200 --> 00:21:43,119 Speaker 1: to lose my legs because I crashed the bird and 429 00:21:43,200 --> 00:21:44,920 Speaker 1: I left down my crew and I left down my 430 00:21:45,080 --> 00:21:47,359 Speaker 1: men because I didn't do my job as a pilot, 431 00:21:47,400 --> 00:21:49,000 Speaker 1: and I failed as a leader, and I failed as 432 00:21:49,000 --> 00:21:51,000 Speaker 1: a pilot, and I filed as a soldier. I felt 433 00:21:51,040 --> 00:21:53,440 Speaker 1: that I deserved to lose my legs. Um, it was. 434 00:21:54,520 --> 00:21:57,800 Speaker 1: And I didn't tell my husband, and I was in 435 00:21:57,960 --> 00:22:01,000 Speaker 1: this dark place in you know, in my mind, and 436 00:22:01,119 --> 00:22:03,320 Speaker 1: and he caught me crying one day. Um, this was 437 00:22:03,480 --> 00:22:05,280 Speaker 1: very use it. In the first few days after I 438 00:22:05,400 --> 00:22:07,080 Speaker 1: was awakened, they told me had lost my legs, and 439 00:22:07,520 --> 00:22:10,280 Speaker 1: I had heard about the crash and everything. Um, when 440 00:22:11,320 --> 00:22:12,840 Speaker 1: he said, what's going on, and I told him this, 441 00:22:12,840 --> 00:22:14,679 Speaker 1: I deserved to lose my legs. I injured my men. 442 00:22:14,800 --> 00:22:16,679 Speaker 1: I didn't do my job. It's a pilot. I let 443 00:22:16,760 --> 00:22:19,119 Speaker 1: my crew down. He said, you guys landed the bird. 444 00:22:19,520 --> 00:22:21,959 Speaker 1: Said what was no, you landed the bird. And then 445 00:22:22,040 --> 00:22:24,680 Speaker 1: there was one picture of my aircraft that they took 446 00:22:24,720 --> 00:22:26,359 Speaker 1: from the air before they blew it up in place, 447 00:22:26,440 --> 00:22:28,680 Speaker 1: and he showed it to me. And I've been fine 448 00:22:28,720 --> 00:22:31,440 Speaker 1: ever since because I did my job until my last breath. 449 00:22:32,520 --> 00:22:34,960 Speaker 1: And if I died that day in Iraq, I would 450 00:22:34,960 --> 00:22:36,720 Speaker 1: have been okay because I did my job and I 451 00:22:36,760 --> 00:22:39,120 Speaker 1: didn't let down my crew. And so every day since 452 00:22:39,200 --> 00:22:43,000 Speaker 1: then has been gratitude that I'm alive and I got 453 00:22:43,119 --> 00:22:46,200 Speaker 1: to do something with this life. And so I became 454 00:22:46,240 --> 00:22:49,120 Speaker 1: a veteran's advocate. It's been it's been glass half full. 455 00:22:49,359 --> 00:22:51,640 Speaker 1: It's been glass half full since that day. You really 456 00:22:51,720 --> 00:22:54,119 Speaker 1: haven't been you know the movies The four born in 457 00:22:54,160 --> 00:22:56,200 Speaker 1: the fourth of July and he's miserable for a long 458 00:22:56,320 --> 00:22:59,080 Speaker 1: time and then you just you just right away, you 459 00:22:59,200 --> 00:23:00,960 Speaker 1: just have this is your purpose, this is your path? 460 00:23:01,119 --> 00:23:04,440 Speaker 1: Is it faith? Is it family? Is it your husband's support? 461 00:23:04,560 --> 00:23:08,120 Speaker 1: Is it the military? Like? What is this? But it's 462 00:23:08,200 --> 00:23:11,639 Speaker 1: it's it's being true to my vows as a soldier, 463 00:23:11,760 --> 00:23:14,680 Speaker 1: to the soldiers cream, I will never give up. I 464 00:23:14,720 --> 00:23:16,560 Speaker 1: will never admit defeat. I would never leave upon and 465 00:23:16,640 --> 00:23:20,119 Speaker 1: comrade behind um. And even though I'm not a soldier anymore, 466 00:23:20,160 --> 00:23:22,480 Speaker 1: I see feel that same way. And it's funny because 467 00:23:22,720 --> 00:23:24,680 Speaker 1: it has given me this whole other life where I'm 468 00:23:24,720 --> 00:23:28,240 Speaker 1: a mom. I had, you know, if I had, I 469 00:23:28,320 --> 00:23:31,040 Speaker 1: have I have kids now because but because my buddy 470 00:23:31,119 --> 00:23:34,320 Speaker 1: saved me, I now have children. Um. I have a 471 00:23:34,560 --> 00:23:36,200 Speaker 1: four year old, almost for year old, in a seven 472 00:23:36,280 --> 00:23:38,360 Speaker 1: year old. I gave birth to my second daughter two 473 00:23:38,440 --> 00:23:41,920 Speaker 1: weeks after I turned fifty, you know, And I'm a mom, 474 00:23:42,000 --> 00:23:45,639 Speaker 1: and I passed legislation to help moms who are traveling breastfeeding. 475 00:23:46,200 --> 00:23:49,600 Speaker 1: I'm I'm doing legislation to help and diaper need. There's 476 00:23:49,640 --> 00:23:52,760 Speaker 1: this whole other world that opened up to me because 477 00:23:52,800 --> 00:23:55,720 Speaker 1: I used the platform of having been wounded to run 478 00:23:55,800 --> 00:23:58,320 Speaker 1: for office. And now I have this office that I occupy, 479 00:23:58,560 --> 00:24:01,640 Speaker 1: which was Barack Obama's old Senate seat. That's the seat 480 00:24:01,680 --> 00:24:04,119 Speaker 1: that I hold, and I get to make a difference 481 00:24:04,160 --> 00:24:06,600 Speaker 1: in the lives of people all across not just the country, 482 00:24:06,760 --> 00:24:09,159 Speaker 1: with the world. And and that's a gift. So my 483 00:24:09,359 --> 00:24:14,080 Speaker 1: my classes and just half emptier, half fool. It's overflowing, flowing, 484 00:24:14,119 --> 00:24:17,040 Speaker 1: and I'm graded and I'm grateful every single day. I'm 485 00:24:17,119 --> 00:24:20,560 Speaker 1: frustrated many days, I'm tired a lot of days, but 486 00:24:20,640 --> 00:24:23,560 Speaker 1: I'm always always. Every morning I wake up, I say 487 00:24:23,960 --> 00:24:26,920 Speaker 1: thank you to the men who saved my life, my buddies. Um. 488 00:24:27,119 --> 00:24:29,240 Speaker 1: And then I think, Okay, what do I do today? 489 00:24:29,760 --> 00:24:32,640 Speaker 1: And how so it hasn't held you back at all? 490 00:24:32,760 --> 00:24:35,080 Speaker 1: How because you're you just had your husband, you didn't 491 00:24:35,080 --> 00:24:38,160 Speaker 1: have your children. Then how has how did it affect 492 00:24:38,280 --> 00:24:41,360 Speaker 1: your family? Your whole family unit. It's it's just your 493 00:24:41,440 --> 00:24:45,080 Speaker 1: parents still alive. My parents, Um, they're my father passed. 494 00:24:45,160 --> 00:24:49,000 Speaker 1: In fact, my father came to visit me. Um. So 495 00:24:49,080 --> 00:24:51,320 Speaker 1: I was wounded on November twelve, my dad came to 496 00:24:51,440 --> 00:24:54,840 Speaker 1: visit UM for Christmas. My parents were living in Hawaii, UM, 497 00:24:55,080 --> 00:24:57,480 Speaker 1: and they came to visit. They got there the day before. 498 00:24:57,560 --> 00:24:59,399 Speaker 1: My dad got there the day before Christmas. Had a 499 00:24:59,440 --> 00:25:02,960 Speaker 1: heart attack day after Christmas and was checked into Walter Read. 500 00:25:03,240 --> 00:25:05,280 Speaker 1: He was also he's also a veteran, so I was 501 00:25:05,320 --> 00:25:07,520 Speaker 1: in the amputee ward. He was in the clodiac ward, 502 00:25:07,560 --> 00:25:11,280 Speaker 1: and he passed away. UM while I was still impatient 503 00:25:11,359 --> 00:25:15,280 Speaker 1: at Walter Read. Um. You know, it affected my family 504 00:25:16,040 --> 00:25:19,800 Speaker 1: in many ways more than it affected me. UM, because 505 00:25:19,920 --> 00:25:23,800 Speaker 1: I I was at peace of what happened. UM. My 506 00:25:23,960 --> 00:25:25,760 Speaker 1: mom had a hard time getting to a place where 507 00:25:25,800 --> 00:25:27,280 Speaker 1: you know, she she wanted a few bad for me, 508 00:25:27,359 --> 00:25:30,280 Speaker 1: And I just said, my mom's Buddhist, UM, so she 509 00:25:30,520 --> 00:25:34,960 Speaker 1: she she believes in karma. And she remember her saying, 510 00:25:35,320 --> 00:25:38,080 Speaker 1: what bad thing? You've never done anything bad in your lifetime? 511 00:25:38,320 --> 00:25:40,080 Speaker 1: What have you done so bad that you deserve this? 512 00:25:40,160 --> 00:25:41,840 Speaker 1: This shouldn't have happened to you. And I when I 513 00:25:41,920 --> 00:25:44,000 Speaker 1: looked at her and said, maybe I'm alive because I 514 00:25:44,080 --> 00:25:46,480 Speaker 1: didn't do anything bad. Maybe this is my gift that 515 00:25:46,560 --> 00:25:48,800 Speaker 1: I get to live, not that I you know, it's 516 00:25:48,800 --> 00:25:50,800 Speaker 1: not a punishment because I lost my legs. Maybe it's 517 00:25:50,840 --> 00:25:54,399 Speaker 1: a gift that I get to live. Um. And and 518 00:25:54,560 --> 00:25:56,800 Speaker 1: so you know, and now I have two wonderful you 519 00:25:56,880 --> 00:26:00,280 Speaker 1: know daughters, and I have this life and I'm just 520 00:26:00,560 --> 00:26:15,440 Speaker 1: trying every day to pay back. Do you ever feel 521 00:26:15,480 --> 00:26:18,199 Speaker 1: frustrated about things that you can't do? Um? And how 522 00:26:18,280 --> 00:26:20,879 Speaker 1: do you explain that to your kids? What do your 523 00:26:20,920 --> 00:26:24,840 Speaker 1: kids know? Um? And then would you want them to 524 00:26:25,040 --> 00:26:27,640 Speaker 1: have to live a military life? Well, let me start 525 00:26:27,720 --> 00:26:29,199 Speaker 1: with the last one. I'd be very proud of they 526 00:26:29,240 --> 00:26:31,639 Speaker 1: joined the military. I would be incredibly proud, and I 527 00:26:31,680 --> 00:26:35,199 Speaker 1: would support them every step of the way. Whether they 528 00:26:35,240 --> 00:26:37,160 Speaker 1: do or not will be their decision, and I wouldn't, 529 00:26:37,400 --> 00:26:42,200 Speaker 1: you know, pressure them to do it. Um. Uh. Yeah, 530 00:26:42,240 --> 00:26:44,240 Speaker 1: it affects my life every single day. It's it's hard 531 00:26:44,320 --> 00:26:47,600 Speaker 1: every single day. I'm mostly I am a wheelchair user, 532 00:26:48,320 --> 00:26:51,320 Speaker 1: um because my my I lodged my right leg up 533 00:26:51,400 --> 00:26:53,200 Speaker 1: so high it's off at the hip and I just 534 00:26:53,280 --> 00:26:55,480 Speaker 1: can't wear a prosthetic on that side that's very comfortable. 535 00:26:55,560 --> 00:26:58,600 Speaker 1: So all of the all of the frustrations that you 536 00:26:58,640 --> 00:27:01,800 Speaker 1: would have from the barriers, you know, from being replying 537 00:27:01,840 --> 00:27:05,000 Speaker 1: on a wheelchair or occupying my life, I you know, 538 00:27:05,119 --> 00:27:08,840 Speaker 1: live with pain every day. Um, but that doesn't you 539 00:27:08,920 --> 00:27:11,920 Speaker 1: know that is it is what it is you. In 540 00:27:12,320 --> 00:27:14,080 Speaker 1: my book I I one of the chapters I I 541 00:27:14,640 --> 00:27:17,680 Speaker 1: titled it um owning the suck. It's something I learned 542 00:27:17,720 --> 00:27:19,920 Speaker 1: in the Army. You know, being in the rock suck. 543 00:27:20,720 --> 00:27:23,160 Speaker 1: Being outside in a hundred twenty degrees heats sucked, having 544 00:27:23,200 --> 00:27:26,119 Speaker 1: to wear body armor suck. Having back guy shooted you sucked. 545 00:27:26,200 --> 00:27:29,320 Speaker 1: But it's your suck, no one else, right, So you 546 00:27:29,440 --> 00:27:32,959 Speaker 1: own it, own that suck and and and dominate that. Well, 547 00:27:33,000 --> 00:27:35,600 Speaker 1: you're owning that suck, but you're also using that suck 548 00:27:35,720 --> 00:27:38,840 Speaker 1: to make so many other people's lives unsucked. That's really 549 00:27:38,920 --> 00:27:43,200 Speaker 1: the thing. You're one person gone through something not in vain, 550 00:27:43,680 --> 00:27:45,920 Speaker 1: and I mean that's what's really interesting about it. I 551 00:27:46,320 --> 00:27:48,600 Speaker 1: am curious what made you do this show? Well, I'm 552 00:27:48,640 --> 00:27:50,159 Speaker 1: been a fan of yours for a long time, so 553 00:27:50,560 --> 00:27:53,439 Speaker 1: I've been watching The Real Housewives from season one, especially 554 00:27:53,480 --> 00:27:54,720 Speaker 1: in New York, so I've got a pink fan. But 555 00:27:54,800 --> 00:27:58,160 Speaker 1: I I've I've always been impressed by you. Always seem 556 00:27:58,200 --> 00:28:00,680 Speaker 1: to be like the one who at our head together 557 00:28:00,960 --> 00:28:03,320 Speaker 1: and was clear about where you were going. And then 558 00:28:03,359 --> 00:28:05,919 Speaker 1: the stuff that you did in the Bahamas. I remember 559 00:28:06,000 --> 00:28:09,359 Speaker 1: when when the Bahamas happening, you know, um, Josiandres went 560 00:28:09,400 --> 00:28:11,480 Speaker 1: in with the food and and and different folks and 561 00:28:11,600 --> 00:28:13,200 Speaker 1: and and and then like out of the blue, like 562 00:28:13,320 --> 00:28:16,800 Speaker 1: Bethley Franklo was sending aircraft FO supplies to the Bahamas. 563 00:28:16,840 --> 00:28:19,760 Speaker 1: I remember thinking what And then I thought, well, that 564 00:28:19,880 --> 00:28:22,080 Speaker 1: makes sense. You're right, you you did this whole thing 565 00:28:22,160 --> 00:28:25,119 Speaker 1: besides just being on a reality show, with creating your 566 00:28:25,160 --> 00:28:28,240 Speaker 1: businesses and means a successful business woman and having your 567 00:28:28,280 --> 00:28:30,680 Speaker 1: head on straight, and so it just you know, And 568 00:28:30,760 --> 00:28:34,440 Speaker 1: then I also wanted to, um, you know, we do 569 00:28:34,600 --> 00:28:37,480 Speaker 1: this podcast with you because I wanted to reach out 570 00:28:37,560 --> 00:28:40,040 Speaker 1: to the people who listen, who are I think, in 571 00:28:40,120 --> 00:28:43,360 Speaker 1: many cases like me, a lot of women, um um, 572 00:28:43,480 --> 00:28:45,600 Speaker 1: and talk about some of the issues that means a 573 00:28:45,720 --> 00:28:48,680 Speaker 1: lot to me, like you know, supporting moms who work 574 00:28:48,720 --> 00:28:51,960 Speaker 1: outside the home, and issues like ending diaper need and 575 00:28:52,040 --> 00:28:55,720 Speaker 1: making sure that we support moms who want to breastfeed 576 00:28:55,760 --> 00:28:58,040 Speaker 1: and want to continue to work and write, get on 577 00:28:58,120 --> 00:29:01,160 Speaker 1: airplanes but can't pump breast milk wherever they need to, 578 00:29:01,320 --> 00:29:03,960 Speaker 1: and all of those things that are important to everyday 579 00:29:04,000 --> 00:29:06,600 Speaker 1: working families across the country. So it's your it's you, 580 00:29:06,720 --> 00:29:10,000 Speaker 1: and it's your audience, and and it's the message of anybody. 581 00:29:10,040 --> 00:29:11,360 Speaker 1: Can you know we can do this? You just you 582 00:29:11,480 --> 00:29:14,920 Speaker 1: just gotta find you know your platform, and be as 583 00:29:14,960 --> 00:29:16,960 Speaker 1: obnoxious as you need to be there, find your way, 584 00:29:17,080 --> 00:29:19,680 Speaker 1: find your way in. They're going to love it. So 585 00:29:20,040 --> 00:29:23,840 Speaker 1: So the final question I have, um for you is 586 00:29:24,120 --> 00:29:26,960 Speaker 1: because I always ask everybody what percentage they're lucky and smart? 587 00:29:27,000 --> 00:29:28,520 Speaker 1: I don't know why. I just don't like that question 588 00:29:28,600 --> 00:29:31,680 Speaker 1: for you. Um well, that's funny. Yeah, do you You 589 00:29:31,760 --> 00:29:33,760 Speaker 1: can answer it if you have a clear answer. But 590 00:29:33,880 --> 00:29:37,080 Speaker 1: I've always been known as a worker. I've always been 591 00:29:37,160 --> 00:29:39,560 Speaker 1: known as a worker. Like I was. I always did 592 00:29:39,680 --> 00:29:41,360 Speaker 1: good in school, but not quite good enough at the 593 00:29:41,400 --> 00:29:44,000 Speaker 1: straight a's you know. I was always like two bees 594 00:29:44,120 --> 00:29:46,440 Speaker 1: or three bees. And you had to fight for everything 595 00:29:46,480 --> 00:29:48,440 Speaker 1: you've gotten. Yeah, I've had to fight for everything I've 596 00:29:48,480 --> 00:29:50,320 Speaker 1: had in my life. But I get it. But but 597 00:29:50,440 --> 00:29:53,200 Speaker 1: you know, I've got a lot of blessings in my 598 00:29:53,320 --> 00:29:56,000 Speaker 1: life that came that came my way that I didn't 599 00:29:56,000 --> 00:29:58,600 Speaker 1: I never asked for and came my way. And I 600 00:29:58,720 --> 00:30:01,000 Speaker 1: got help when I needed it, when when my family 601 00:30:01,120 --> 00:30:03,280 Speaker 1: was almost homeless, and and and and starting. You know, 602 00:30:03,320 --> 00:30:05,200 Speaker 1: it was a high school teacher who fed me dinner 603 00:30:05,520 --> 00:30:08,240 Speaker 1: for three nights a week from his public school teacher salary. 604 00:30:08,240 --> 00:30:10,640 Speaker 1: You see, knew I was hungry. Um. I didn't ask me, 605 00:30:10,960 --> 00:30:13,440 Speaker 1: he just did it. So so it's about giving back, 606 00:30:13,960 --> 00:30:17,600 Speaker 1: even to the people, um that you don't realize did 607 00:30:17,680 --> 00:30:19,360 Speaker 1: something for you. I mean, I feel like we have. 608 00:30:19,640 --> 00:30:22,640 Speaker 1: We all have an obligation, especially when you're living in 609 00:30:22,680 --> 00:30:25,000 Speaker 1: a country like the United States where we are so 610 00:30:25,160 --> 00:30:26,920 Speaker 1: much wealth there and so much better off than people. 611 00:30:27,240 --> 00:30:29,520 Speaker 1: You know, you saw what you saw, what Bahamas was like. 612 00:30:30,240 --> 00:30:32,960 Speaker 1: You know, there's there's two different worlds there. There's the 613 00:30:33,080 --> 00:30:37,040 Speaker 1: there's the resort vacation world, and then there's everybody else. Um. 614 00:30:37,640 --> 00:30:40,280 Speaker 1: And the suffering is real yea. And if we're going 615 00:30:40,360 --> 00:30:43,200 Speaker 1: to enjoy the resort, which we should, we should have 616 00:30:43,400 --> 00:30:47,240 Speaker 1: some empathy and and and some heart for the rest 617 00:30:47,320 --> 00:30:50,120 Speaker 1: of you know, the other world that supports that resort work. Yeah, 618 00:30:50,200 --> 00:30:55,800 Speaker 1: this was Puerto Rico, this is everywhere. Um. So the 619 00:30:55,920 --> 00:30:59,760 Speaker 1: last question is your this is going to be interesting 620 00:31:00,200 --> 00:31:04,240 Speaker 1: the rose and thorn of your career, and they could 621 00:31:04,280 --> 00:31:06,440 Speaker 1: be the same thing. Well, I think that the stuff 622 00:31:06,440 --> 00:31:10,400 Speaker 1: I've been doing for for for working women. Um, it's 623 00:31:10,480 --> 00:31:14,240 Speaker 1: been really unusual because I've noticed a veterans person. But 624 00:31:14,400 --> 00:31:18,200 Speaker 1: I'm really proud of my breastfeeding legislation. I'm really proud 625 00:31:18,400 --> 00:31:20,320 Speaker 1: of my the bill that I wrote this year to 626 00:31:20,880 --> 00:31:22,920 Speaker 1: get rid of let out of our drinking water supply. 627 00:31:23,200 --> 00:31:25,760 Speaker 1: I'm really proud of the work I'm currently doing on 628 00:31:25,920 --> 00:31:30,960 Speaker 1: diaper needs. UM. So the roses is this new part 629 00:31:31,040 --> 00:31:34,560 Speaker 1: of my work that has to do with supporting parents 630 00:31:34,680 --> 00:31:36,760 Speaker 1: who are working outside of the home so that they 631 00:31:36,760 --> 00:31:39,600 Speaker 1: can take care of their children. Um. The thorn of 632 00:31:39,640 --> 00:31:42,320 Speaker 1: my existence is the unfinished business. Were trying to make 633 00:31:42,360 --> 00:31:44,520 Speaker 1: sure that we give our veterans everything that they need 634 00:31:44,520 --> 00:31:47,080 Speaker 1: because they still are suffering and they don't have everything 635 00:31:47,160 --> 00:31:49,760 Speaker 1: that they need. And no matter you know, how hard 636 00:31:49,800 --> 00:31:51,160 Speaker 1: I try and how much work I put into it, 637 00:31:51,520 --> 00:31:54,280 Speaker 1: there's always more. And we still have homeless veterans, we 638 00:31:54,400 --> 00:31:56,960 Speaker 1: have Vietnam veterans who still haven't been cared for. We 639 00:31:57,040 --> 00:31:59,560 Speaker 1: have gulf org syndrome that people are still suffering from it. 640 00:31:59,600 --> 00:32:03,960 Speaker 1: And that's the thorn. It's unfinished work. Well, I have 641 00:32:04,200 --> 00:32:06,920 Speaker 1: to say that that for you to not say that 642 00:32:07,040 --> 00:32:10,840 Speaker 1: your shoot down was not your thorn, is it says 643 00:32:10,880 --> 00:32:13,160 Speaker 1: so much about you. Um, I want to introduce you 644 00:32:13,200 --> 00:32:15,280 Speaker 1: to my fiance at some point. He's done a lot 645 00:32:15,360 --> 00:32:19,240 Speaker 1: of he's worked politically adjacent, but he's worked with a 646 00:32:19,240 --> 00:32:21,640 Speaker 1: lot of different politicians. And he was talking recently about 647 00:32:21,640 --> 00:32:24,160 Speaker 1: the military during the Super Bowl, just thinking about the 648 00:32:24,240 --> 00:32:26,600 Speaker 1: military when they cut two and he said, I want 649 00:32:26,600 --> 00:32:28,440 Speaker 1: to do more with veterans, et cetera. So I should 650 00:32:28,440 --> 00:32:31,280 Speaker 1: connect you to because I think it would bring more 651 00:32:31,360 --> 00:32:34,840 Speaker 1: meaning to his life. And I think you would gel 652 00:32:35,040 --> 00:32:38,040 Speaker 1: And he's I asked him often, and I should have 653 00:32:38,120 --> 00:32:39,600 Speaker 1: certain people and if he thinks it's a good fit. 654 00:32:39,920 --> 00:32:41,840 Speaker 1: And he was reading off some of the you know, 655 00:32:42,040 --> 00:32:44,320 Speaker 1: things that you've done and who you are and that 656 00:32:44,400 --> 00:32:47,280 Speaker 1: you're a badass effectively, and I was like, wow, And 657 00:32:47,440 --> 00:32:49,960 Speaker 1: so I think it'd be a good connection for me 658 00:32:50,000 --> 00:32:52,080 Speaker 1: to connect you to him. Oh thank you. Yeah, I 659 00:32:52,120 --> 00:32:53,800 Speaker 1: don't think if my stuff was a badass. I just 660 00:32:54,280 --> 00:32:55,800 Speaker 1: you know, once you've been blown up, what else can 661 00:32:55,840 --> 00:33:04,120 Speaker 1: they do to you know? Well, for me, I'll try it. Well, 662 00:33:04,320 --> 00:33:07,080 Speaker 1: you're you're a boss. You're a boss at the very least. 663 00:33:07,160 --> 00:33:09,400 Speaker 1: So it's been such a pleasure to talk to you. 664 00:33:09,680 --> 00:33:13,440 Speaker 1: This is unbelievable. Women are going people people, but women 665 00:33:13,480 --> 00:33:15,760 Speaker 1: are definitely going to appreciate it. So I appreciate the time, 666 00:33:15,880 --> 00:33:17,880 Speaker 1: and I wish you the best of everything. Honestly, I 667 00:33:18,040 --> 00:33:24,640 Speaker 1: loved your family. Thank you. That was the single most 668 00:33:24,760 --> 00:33:29,400 Speaker 1: inspiring conversation I've ever had in my entire life. I mean, 669 00:33:29,480 --> 00:33:33,160 Speaker 1: that's just there's not much else to say. What an 670 00:33:33,200 --> 00:33:38,000 Speaker 1: incredible human being. Literally when we say well, because you 671 00:33:38,080 --> 00:33:40,400 Speaker 1: know that that that person is a soldier, This woman 672 00:33:40,480 --> 00:33:45,000 Speaker 1: is a soldier, this woman is a warrior, fearless survivor. 673 00:33:45,800 --> 00:33:49,600 Speaker 1: I cannot even believe that conversation. It was extraordinary and 674 00:33:49,680 --> 00:33:55,920 Speaker 1: I'm so lucky and grateful and hashtag blessed in the 675 00:33:56,000 --> 00:34:00,640 Speaker 1: most authentic sense of that word. That was amazing. Just 676 00:34:00,880 --> 00:34:04,040 Speaker 1: Be is hosted by me Bethany Frankel. Just Be is 677 00:34:04,080 --> 00:34:07,080 Speaker 1: a production of Be Real Productions, I Heart Radio and 678 00:34:07,160 --> 00:34:11,320 Speaker 1: Blue Duck Media. Are EPs are Morgan Levois, Antonio Enriquez, 679 00:34:11,400 --> 00:34:13,719 Speaker 1: and Kara hit To catch more moments from the show, 680 00:34:13,880 --> 00:34:16,320 Speaker 1: follow us on Instagram at just Be with Bethany